We’ve had a number of emails from users lately that are complaining that Google Earth tilts their view as they zoom in, and it’s difficult to get the view “fixed”. In this article we’ll show you how to prevent that from happening, and how to fix it if it does.
First, you need to understand why Google Earth does this. As they add more 3D buildings to Google Earth (particularly all of the new 3D Imagery), Google wants to make sure people understand that they can tilt to view the 3D buildings instead of just viewing it from above.
In the early days of Google Earth, the problem was the opposite — many people assumed it was a flat view like Google Maps and didn’t realize you could tilt your view at all!
Regardless, the “auto-tilt while zooming in” can be a bit annoying at times. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to fix. Go into your [Tools] –> [Options] menu, then click the “Navigation” tab at the top. In there, click the button next to “Do not automatically tilt while zooming” and you should be good to go.
If by chance you find yourself tilted and want to get back to a vertical position, it’s very easy to do. Just press the “U” key on your keyboard (short for Up) and your view will automatically go back to being completely vertical. You can also press the “R” key (short for Reset) which will make your view vertical and also face you toward the north.
To learn more, check out this post for a full list of Google Earth navigation tips.
About Mickey Mellen
Mickey has been using Google Earth since it was released in 2005, and has created a variety of geo-related sites including Google Earth Hacks. He runs a web design firm in Marietta, GA, where he lives with his wife and two kids.